Yesterday, I had the opportunity to present the Verse of the Day on YouVersion … also known as the Bible app. YouVersion has been a part of my own discipleship journey for years, so partnering with them is such an incredible honor for me and the Whispers & Fringes team.
The verse I shared was Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Then, I proceeded to share a story of how I had seen this play out in real life back when I was in college. The incident made such an impression on me, that here I am, decades later, still talking about it.
But talking about it is one thing. Living it out is another. I’ve had my moments when I’ve gotten this right, and plenty of moments when I haven’t.
I encountered my own situation (similar to the waitress story) several months ago, long before I knew I would be teaching on this verse. My husband and I were remodeling our home, and were having issues with one of our contractors. It became a he-said, she-said situation. I expressed my frustration in a way that wasn’t very Ephesians 4:2ish. At that point, I felt comfortable with how I handled the situation, justifying it in my mind. After all, I felt like he had dropped the ball.
In the past week or so, as I was praying for everyone who would see the video, the Holy Spirit brought me back to that conversation with the contractor. I pictured him watching the video. What would he be thinking of me, and more importantly, the God I serve?
I knew what I had to do. With my husband and decorator on the text (who had both witnessed the conversation), I apologized to the contractor for how I handled the situation.
I didn’t expect a response, and I haven’t received one, but that’s okay. I did what I could do to make the situation right.
If you were a kid who grew up in Sunday School, you might recall a song about a guy named Zacchaeus. His primary claim to fame was being vertically challenged and having lunch with Jesus.
After this encounter, he is a changed man: Luke 19:8 “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.'”
It would have been easy for him to leave it at “From now on, I’m gonna do better!” But that wouldn’t mean much to the people he had wronged in the past. So, he goes above and beyond to make it right with them, too.
In a book called “Tactics”, Greg Koukl says that if a person doesn’t have the virtues of the kingdom that he serves, he will “undermine his message and handicap his efforts”.
I can’t go back in time and change that conversation with the contractor, but I am thankful that the kindness of the Lord leads us to repentance. I also have no doubt that I will have another chance to be humble, gentle, patient and loving in a difficult situation. I pray I represent my Father well … not just by my words, but by my works.
~ Anu
